It’s the “next big thing” in television, and thanks to a carriage deal between Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world’s largest religious broadcaster, and the upcoming Internet-based WIN Network, viewers of faith and family programming will be the big winners in this hyper-advance in innovative technology.

It’s called Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), and as WIN officially launches in the summer of 2011, hundreds of millions of viewers throughout the U.S. and around the world will have instant access to all the best in live Christian television, as well as a nearly unlimited supply of church services, ministry programs, and faith-and-family programming through Video on Demand (VOD) 24 hours every day.

How does it work? WIN co-founder and chairman Michael Jay Solomon, a media veteran who headed both Lorimar Telepictures and Warner Bros. International Television, explained that the Internet has become by far the largest reservoir of both live programming and VOD catering to Christian viewers. “IPTV technology allows us to take this vast body of inspirational programming and make it available to viewers right over their television sets,” Solomon said. “With the use of a wireless HD set-top box attached to their TVs, viewers will be able to tune in to WIN and have 24-hour access to the best in live inspirational programming from networks like TBN and its five faith-and-family channels, along with archived church services and ministry programs, their favorite Christian movies and music, concerts, youth conferences, and more. And when they’re out in a coffee shop or traveling, they’ll still be able to get all the same programming by logging on to WIN through their laptops, smart phones, or other mobile devices.”

Paul Crouch Jr., TBN’s Chief of Staff, noted that while quality faith-and-family television has exploded in popularity over the past few years, many cable and satellite providers have limited the number of inspirational channels they offer subscribers to a small handful. That’s where WIN comes into play.

“Through WIN, viewers will have convenient access at home or on the road to a virtual treasure trove of the best Christian networks in the world,” Crouch said, “including our TBN flagship network, as well as the Church Channel, JCTV youth network, TBN Enlace USA Spanish language network, and our Smile of a Child children’s network”

In fact, said Solomon, through its carriage of the TBN networks and other religious channels like GOD TV, Daystar, Inspiration, and the Parables movie network (to name just a few), the World Inspirational Network will be the world’s largest aggregator of faith-and-family cable and satellite channels as well as archived Christian video content.

“We’re proud to be able to bring together all the best that inspirational broadcasting has to offer, and provide it to the Christian community in one easy format,” he said. “WIN is set to revolutionize the way hundreds of millions of viewers throughout America and the world integrate Christian content into their daily lives.”

About Trinity Broadcasting Network

Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is the world’s largest religious network and America’s most watched and requested faith channel. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to viewers from a wide variety of denominations and backgrounds. Beginning in 1973 as a single UHF station in southern California, TBN now reaches every major continent via 78 satellites and more than 18,000 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives millions of visitors monthly. In addition to TBN, the network owns and operates seven networks, including the Church Channel, JCTV youth network, TBN Enlace USA Spanish language network, and Smile of a Child children’s network. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org and www.tbnnetworks.com.